Parks Authority battles water crisis

Sunday Mail Reporter
Wildlife mortality in Zimbabwe’s game parks could increase due to the drought ravaging the country, with elephants the worst affected.
In 2011, 165 elephants died in Hwange National Park because of an acute water shortage. The giant mammals are highly water dependent and cannot be sustained by natural sources alone, especially in a drought season.
An elephant can drink up to 200 litres of water per day.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail last week, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Mr Edison Chidziya said several strategies were in place, backed by a US$500 000 chest, to run 65 boreholes in Hwange National Park which has 50 000 elephants.
He said borehole water would also be pumped around Gonarezhou National Park, whose catchment area usually receives 500mm to 600mm of rain annually. “We are likely to experience a more serious drought compared to previous seasons. However, we will strive to mitigate or minimise the effects; animal losses will be inevitable, though.
“We also appeal to other stakeholders to partner us in efforts to reduce the effects of drought. It’s important for all Zimbabweans to participate in preserving our natural resources,” Mr Chidziya said.
He added: “We want to also warn poachers who might be tempted to hunt because of food shortages brought about by drought. They will find us there.
“Due to drought, shorelines will recede, thereby affecting fisheries. However, if the drought is not prolonged, the system may recover and save breeding grounds. We also want to warn against fishing in crocodile-infested areas.”